Frequently Asked Questions
For more information, please see our Terms and Conditions page
- How do I dedicate on-line? back
The on-line shop provides 2 ways to dedicate woodland on-line. You can either dedicate
- with a single donation by just choosing the type of dedication you are interested in (quarter of an acre etc), and then click on the 'Order now' button to show - region by region - all the woods where that dedication is available. Then follow the step by step guide on screen.
or
through a group fund (via the 'Group funds' button). Group funds enable a number of people to work together and contribute to a central fund, allowing an event - like a wedding or a funeral for example - to be marked in a more significant way. Just click on the 'Group fund' button and follow the step by step instructions on-screen. Once your fund has closed and you know the type of dedication it has achieved, you can choose the wood you would like from literally hundreds around the country.
- How do I choose the wood I want my dedication to be in? back
Woodland dedications are available in the vast majority of our woods but because every wood is unique, not all dedications are available in all woods. So first you need to decide what type of dedication you want. Once you have clicked on the dedication you are interested in, and then add to basket to show - region by region - all the woods where this dedication is available. If you prefer to dedicate via a group funds, you choose the wood once all the donations have been added up and the fund has closed - so you know what dedication the fund has achieved.
Please note that on very rare occasions woods may suddenly become unavailable for dedication. We do apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. If this affects your dedication, we will inform you as soon as possible and help you select a substitute wood.
- Can I dedicate single trees? back
Yes, the Woodland Trust offers a specific scheme for dedicating single young trees in 20 woodland sites around the UK. Please click here to find out more
- If I order a quarter acre dedication, how will I know which trees are mine? back
We'll mark your quarter acre stand with an indicator, and the map will give you the grid reference.
- Can I choose the type of tree? back
We will be able to find a wood for you with the type of tree you'd like to dedicate growing in it. However, you will find some species are more prevalent in certain areas than others so it will depend on how important to you the location of the wood is.
- If I dedicate an area of woodland, can I plant trees, or have trees planted in it? back
The woods we use for dedication purposes are already planted; indeed most of them are mature and we would be reluctant to plant more trees partly because we would be unable to nurture them in the first vital three years. Also, spaces left in woods are usually left on purpose to provide meadows and grassy rides for both people and wildlife to enjoy. Wild spaces are sometimes left so that the wood can regenerate naturally.
- When will you plant my trees? back
The trees are already growing. Dedications are made in both young and old woods but majority of the woods available have trees aged from 10 years on.
If you particularly wish your dedication to be associated with woodland creation, please contact us
- Can we let friends and family know about our fund? back
Yes, once you have set up your fund you can either e mail the details to them, or print our leaflets to hand to them.
- If our fund does not reach £250 are there other dedication schemes that we can use? back
Yes, we have schemes that start at £15 to dedicate a single tree. If you require any further information on this, please click here.
- Are we able to top up the fund ourselves? back
Yes, once the fund has been created you can manage your fund online and also make a personal donation to 'top up' your own fund.
- If we do not want to dedicate an area of woodland where will our fund be used? back
If you do not wish to dedicate an area of trees we can arrange for the fund to go to our core funds. This means it will be used where the need is greatest. Alternatively you can ask that the fund be used for the care and maintenance of a nominated woodland.
- Is the Woodland Trust able to claim gift aid on donations? back
Yes, when your friends and family donate they will be asked if they are willing to gift aid their donation. This enables us to reclaim the tax on the donation, increasing it by 25% (providing the donor has paid sufficient UK income/capital gains tax to cover this amount).
- Do we have to manage the fund online? back
No, we appreciate that not everybody likes to use the internet in this way. The shop is offered for convenience and to save paper but you can dedicate woodland by post and phone.
If you wish to set up a fund but don't want it online please call our free phone number 0800 026 9650 and we can arrange to set up your fund as offline.
- If I buy a bench, or have one made for me, can I put it in one of your woods? back
The Trust already offers a small range of benches in carefully selected woods at a price aimed to reflect the cost of both the bench and its installation, looking after the bench and the surrounding acre for the future, and of maintaining the pathway/s leading to it. For this reason, and on safety grounds, we are usually unable to accept offers of benches or other furniture. As a conservation organisation our primary aim is to create new woodland and manage our existing woodland. In order to keep our woods as natural as possible we have to restrict the numbers of benches and grove posts, and at the same time raise funds to help us look after them and to achieve our core aims.
- Does the Woodland Trust offer woodland burials? back
The Woodland Trust does not offer a woodland burial scheme. For details of local councils and other organisations that operate such schemes, you may wish to contact the Natural Death Centre which has a complete and regularly updated list of around 200 schemes available in the UK:
The Natural Death Centre12a Blackstock MewsBlackstock RoadLondonN4 2BTTel: 0871 288 2098Email: contact@naturaldeath.org.ukwww.naturaldeath.org.ukOtherwise, please contact your local authority direct.
- Do you allow ashes to be scattered in your woods? back
Yes - we know that many people who dedicate trees and woodland as memorials are also interested in scattering their loved one's ashes there. Woods are nature's cathedrals - they have a distinctive peaceful and spiritual feel, making them natural resting places.
We understand the desire to link your loved one with a special place forever, so if you wish to scatter their ashes, please feel free to do so. However, for the sake of our woods and visitors please follow the guidelines below to ensure that our woods are kept as natural as possible for everyone to enjoy:
- Please be discreet and thinly scatter away from the main paths
- Please don't:
- disturb the ground in any way
- hold a formal ceremony (a small informal gathering is fine)
- plant anything such as trees, shrubs or bulbs
- leave any marker behind in the wood - no memorial stone or casket, paper or plastic wrapping. One or two flower stems are acceptable
